Polarized light has many uses: glare reduction, stress analysis, microscope image enhancement, thin-film characterization, astronomy, saccharimetry, and atomic spectroscopy. Here we discuss introductory polarized light measurements in which a diode laser pointer replaces the more frequently used polarized He-Ne laser. A diode laser has been used in introductory optics experiments, and in a more advanced polarization-reflection experiment. Its strong collimated beam is completely polarized and, being free of infrared radiation, it permits Polaroid sheets to be used successfully with semiconductor detectors.

Topics
Infrared radiation, Image processing, Thin films, Atomic and molecular spectroscopy, Semiconductor detectors, Laser pointers
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2000 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2000
American Association of Physics Teachers
AAPT members receive access to The Physics Teacher and the American Journal of Physics as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.